Artificial intelligence will shape every aspect of our daily life. It is a major game-changer in a business, educational, political and other spheres. The Czech Republic is one of the most industrialized Central/Eastern European countries, with a huge potential in robotics and artificial intelligence. Machine learning technology evolves so fast that it is impossible to follow its development and stay on top of big changes. In order to stay up to date, it is important to self-educate, attend special training programs and workshops. Current agenda of the European Union is based on three pillars: investment in private and public sectors (programme Horizon 2020); preparation for socio-economic changes brought about by AI through business-education partnerships; creation of the ethical and legal framework (The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was a major step done in this pillar). Join the panel to know more about policies and approaches of the European Union regarding Artificial Intelligence, how it impacts our lives and how better to be prepared for the future changes.

Panel 2: Future of Work

The future of work will be intertwined with artificial intelligence and automation processes. Following the technological progress, the workplace, in the future, will no longer be associated solely with people. It is about the tense collaboration of a human being with robotics. Technology shapes the work process to such extent that employees, in order to compete and remain competitive in the job market, should educate themselves all the time. Major concerns about the future of work include bridging the skills gap, the impact of automation, access to technology and unemployment issues. In several countries, like Luxembourg and Norway, there are special national reskilling programs which offers individually adapted programs and skills updates for employers and employees, as well as IT literacy, numeracy and oral communication. Join the panel to discuss the impact of the technology on the work process in the future and to share concerns about policy issues.

Panel 3: Intelligent Mobility and Transportation

Nowadays the concept of driving is slowly shifting into a new dimension of self-driving cars. Artificial Intelligence technology has already been implemented in several automotive companies like Tesla, BMW, Volvo, and Toyota. There are 4 ways of its impact: assisted driving, cloud-hosted intelligence, enhanced connectivity, and intelligent insurance risk assessment. In turn, it requires new regulations, logistics, security, and infrastructure. No doubt that mobility is an important economic factor because it provides with goods and services for our general daily activity. The future goals of mobility seem more safety, comfort, and environment focused. However, it is necessary to keep in mind new risks which can emerge, like liability and responsibility. The panel is dedicated to the current problems and the concerns the mobility will have to face in the future as well as policies, which have to be implemented.

Panel 4: Regulation and ethics of artificial intelligence

The rapidly expanding field of artificial intelligence interferes and will interfere increasingly in many areas of human life. In contrast to the previous approach to technologies, nowadays is clear that we cannot get along without well-timed solutions to the questions of regulation and ethics. Leading scientists concur with big companies that ethics rules must be implemented within the development of algorithms just as basic ethical and legal manipulation with data, which are essential for artificial intelligence. In contrast to the rest of the world, Europe has adopted this ethical attitude to AI and together with the private sector and Czech public administration.

In the regulation sphere, the rules must be cautiously set and adjusted so they do not prevent the development of AI, but they ensure the legal certainty for business and consumers. The European Commission introduced its approach in the communication Artificial Intelligence for Europe. The Government of the Czech Republic has elaborated the analysis of the regulation and its impacts on the Czech legal systém. The supranational coordination of the rules is crucial not just in the European Union. The Czech Republic has chosen this theme as pivotal within the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT). Significant in this area is also the self-regulation of prominent companies in cooperation with the public sphere.

Day 2.

Business breakfast: Czech Digital Government

No doubt technology shapes all aspects of daily activities, including our own political system. The top and foremost priority for the governmental system nowadays is the implementation of various cutting-edge methods to become more effective, transparent, and available to citizens. Digitalization of the government must facilitate the execution of state administration, reduce the level of bureaucracy and help to save resources. Steps which have already been taken in this field in the Czech Republic include electronic ID cards, data mailboxes, electronic criminal records.

Day 2.

Panel 1: Czech Blockchain Republic

The blockchain is one of the most prominent and at the same time confusing technology. Most people know of it through the recent popularity of the cryptocurrency market, however, since its emergence, the technology is used in different spheres. For instance, the adoption of blockchain technology for government use for database registration across several sectors such as security, legislative, health, and the judiciary. In turn, potentially it should reduce the level of corruption and bureaucracy. Indeed, the Czech Republic is one of the most advanced countries in Europe in a cryptocurrency field.

In 2017, the Czech Republic introduced amendments to the law “On some measures to legalize the proceeds of crime and the financing of terrorism”, where the concept of “virtual currency” was first introduced. However, today cryptocurrencies are still not an official means of payment and are not a subject to the law on payment systems. The panel is focused on the usage of blockchain in public and private fields in the Czech Republic, the benefits of the technology, and how it will evolve in the future.

Panel 2: Bohemian internet and mobile data

The internet, probably one of the most revolutionary inventions of the 20th century, changed not only our lifestyle but also the way we work and interact with each other. In 2018, the average speed of internet and technological advantage of smartphones and other sorts of gadgets, allowed to execute complex work tasks anywhere, anytime from any device. The Czech Republic currently covers less than 82% of the total population, which puts the country below the EU average. To attain a true digital economy, a first-class high-speed internet is required in all households, businesses, and public places. Considering the tariffs, the Czech Republic has very costly internet services, which makes internet access unaffordable or very limited to some families. Another problem is a monopoly of big internet providing companies slowing down the development of the field. The panel is focused on how mobile data and internet drives business transformation across all industries, particularly stressing the issues of security, e-commerce, mobile apps and future development.

Panel 3: Education for the digital age

Transformation into a digital space in the 21st century requires proper digital education to reduce the amount of digitally-illiterate employees in the future. A significant amount of steps should be taken to transform currently established educational system into a lifelong learning process. The panel is dedicated to the new trends in the educational field, digitalization, and technology application. Attend the panel to get more information about tools and means of digitalization in education, and to share concerns with the speakers about advantages and disadvantages of digital education.